African Americans from Lakeland, a predominantly Black neighborhood located about two miles from the College Park Airport, worked at the airmail station between 1918 and 1920 as airmail mechanics, couriers, pilots, and groundskeepers.
Lakeland still exists but has changed due to a devastating urban renewal project in the 1970s, which forced many longtime residents out of their homes. Some descendants of the air field employees continue to live in the Lakeland area today.
In the photo above, Charles Johnson (furthest left in the bucket hat) worked at station between January 1, 1919 to April 18, 1920 and briefly returned in July 1921, as a mail chauffeur/driver and mechanic.
Charles Johnson’s grandson, Dervey Lomax, became College Park’s first African American mayor. He fought to integrate public schools and served as a voice for his community.
“My grandfather, Charles Johnson, he was sort of politically oriented… in fact, when Pearl Harbor was bombed, we had a shortwave radio, and I stayed up with him and we listened to it. He taught me a lot from a political standpoint." —Dervey Lomax oral history interview, Lakeland Community Heritage Project
Lakelanders among the crew include Charles J. Johnson, Hans Hill, Paul Hill, George Brooks and Bernie Brooks. The five known Lakelanders featured in this picture worked at the airmail station serving as mail deliverers, mechanic’s helpers, and general laborers. Even though they do not appear in the photograph, other Lakelanders worked at the airmail station and equally deserve remembrance.
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